PXG 0311 Black Ops Hybrid Review
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At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
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Pros
- PXG Black Ops family looks the business, sounds explosive, and feels exceptional.
- Easy to launch, confidence-inspiring, and available in a wide range of lofts.
- There's a good selection of stock shafts plus lots of premium upgrade choices.
- PXG's weight and length fitting capability is second to none.
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Cons
- Extremely versatile, but those looking for something targeted at a specific player type may need to explore elsewhere.
What we say...
Offering an optimal blend of forgiveness, accuracy, and distance. Does the PXG 0311 Black Ops hybrid have it all?
Many golfers who struggle to hit long irons consistently have turned to hybrid models to rescue them from their mid-long approach shot dilemmas.
The benchmark of success for engineers when designing a hybrid is achieving a balance of distance and forgiveness, while remaining easy to launch from the fairway and in the rough.
It’s quite the challenge, especially considering the amount of tech that needs to be incorporated into a relatively small clubhead, and to emerge victorious would propel PXG among the best hybrids in golf.
Ready to roll off their ‘custom-build only’ shelves in 2024 is PXG’s family of drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids, featuring the company’s breakthrough technology – Black Ops.
The Arizonia-based brand, led by military veteran, entrepreneur, and golf nut – Bob Parsons, is committed to only releasing products that are “markedly better” than its predecessor. In this case – the GEN6 hybrid.
The Black Ops name remains on theme with the covert nature of many recent metal launches across the industry that could pass for the next James Bond installment – Stealth, Paradym Ai-Smoke, Darkspeed, Blueprint. Even Qi10 has a 007-esque feel about it.
We rip off the headcovers and take a look at the tech behind what PXG believes will help players of all abilities hit longer, straighter, and more consistently than ever before.
Black Ops: The Tech
Precision Weighting Technology
As per the GEN6 models, Black Ops hybrids present three weight ports with the default set-up being one heavy (12.5 g), and two light (2.5 g) that are interchangeable to support preferred spin and shape. Available weights range between 2.5 and 20 g in 2.5 g increments so players can fine-tune their ideal head weight and shot bias.
Pulling the CG towards the toe will create a fade bias, with weight in the heel helping to square the face and add draw. Those seeking higher MOI, launch and forgiveness can distribute more weight in the back.
This supported weight structure, positioned in the extreme perimeter of the clubhead, provides a stiff and stable geometry that PXG says creates an optimal feel and sound at impact.
Square face, flat sole design
The Black Ops hybrids introduce a new high-strength, stainless steel that’s 10.5% thinner than its GEN6 predecessor. The face is engineered to position the CM optimally to aid with faster ball speeds, higher launch, and lower spin. The combination of a squared face and flat sole lowers the CM which leads to the increased forgiveness PXG says is on offer.
Robotic polishing
This high-precision process ensures the face thickness and curvature are consistently manufactured to design specifications that maximize performance and impart corrective spin for off-center impacts.
High-strength composite construction
The crown is made entirely from a lightweight, high-grade carbon fiber that saves mass, enabling it to be redistributed lower and toward the extreme perimeter of the clubhead for optimal CM positioning and forgiveness.
PXG 0311 Black Ops Hybrid
RRP: $299.99 / £309.99 | Availability: 2H / 3H / 4H / 5H / 6H / 7H
Black Ops hybrids have been meticulously designed with custom fitting in mind, which PXG says makes them “some of the most versatile and high-performing clubs in the industry.”
The super versatile one-model on offer is geared towards a wide range of players, ranging from a 17° 2-iron replacement down to a 31° mid-iron alternative.
The hybrid is billed as mid-spinning and easy to launch, offering maximum distance, tight dispersion, and an incredible sound and feel. It’s a combination that ticks a lot of boxes.
All Blacks Ops hybrids are available in a range of premium shaft options and come with PXG Z5 Black grips as standard.
| Club | Loft | Lie | Length | Head Mass |
| 2H | 17° | 58° | 40.75″ | 230 g |
| 3H | 18° | 58.5° | 40.25″ | 235 g |
| 4H | 22° | 59° | 39.75″ | 240 g |
| 5H | 25° | 59.5° | 39.25″ | 245 g |
| 6H | 28° | 60° | 38.75″ | 250 g |
| 7H | 31° | 60.5° | 38.25″ | 255 g |
The Black Ops Family
The 0311 Black Ops hybrids complete PXG’s new family of woods which all incorporate much of the same technology with some subtle variations.
The 0311 Black Ops driver is geared towards a wide range of players and is characterized as a high-launch, yet low-spin option by PXG, whereas the Tour-1 driver is geared toward more advanced players with high swing speeds who seek extremely low spin performance and penetrating ball flights.
As per the hybrids, the 0311 Black Ops fairway woods boast a high-grade and lightweight carbon fiber crown, saving mass so it can be redistributed low and to the clubhead’s perimeter for optimal CG positioning and added forgiveness.
Players also maintain the ability to dial in their preferred spin and bias settings with PXG’s Precision Weighting Technology that runs throughout the family.
What PXG says
Billed as a “complete and total victory in woods engineering”, it’s fair to say PXG expects Black Ops to be the breakthrough they’ve been waiting for in their bid to ruffle feathers in the long-game market.
“I have often wondered why golfers are content to give up distance to achieve forgiveness, said PXG founder and CEO Bob Parsons.
“We’ve spent much of our R&D efforts focused on that challenge, and I am proud to say we’ve cracked that nut. Black Ops Woods are straight like an arrow, more forgiving than a priest on Sunday, and absolutely stunning to boot!”
Celine Boutier (LPGA Tour Pro & Major Champion): “I’m enjoying the new Black Ops hybrids; my initial reaction is that they have a softer feel and are nicely forgiving. The heads are a little bigger than the previous model which gives that extra bit of confidence. I’m looking forward to getting them in the bag for this season!”
Auston Kim (LPGA Tour Pro): The new Black Ops line sets up very well at address. The clubs facilitate solid strikes and are very forgiving for off-center strikes as well. In addition to feeling great, the clubs look fantastic too.”
Video: How does the PXG 0311 Black Ops compare to other leading 2024 hybrids?
Verdict: PXG 0311 Black Ops Hybrids
As per the drivers and fairway woods, PXG’s blacked-out livery looks great on the hybrid in my opinion. Clean and unfussy but with a steak of rebelliousness about it. It’s fitting, as PXG unashamedly prides itself on being a disruptive force (in a good way), and nothing says is better than the hybrid’s menacing-looking square face.
I was really pleased with how easy the club was to get airborne, and by the time Conor – my very patient and knowledgeable fitter – had optimized my setup, I was consistently launching the 3-hybrid at 19° for a carry of around 190 yards – a key distance for me with a couple of longish par-3s on my home course.
My standard left-to-right ‘mini slice’ didn’t miraculously disappear, but after a few adjustments to help close my face-to-path angle, those balls were still clinging onto the fairway. This is why investing in a professional fitting is such an important and worthwhile exercise.
All considered, the Black Ops hybrid feels like the complete package of a rescue wood and should serve a wide range of abilities really well. I’m looking forward to putting it in the bag this year and I wouldn’t be surprised to see PXG headcovers popping out of many more too.
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About the author
Ross Tugwood
Golf Equipment Writer
Ross Tugwood is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.
Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.
He has post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.
Product Information
PXG 0311 Black Ops Hybrids
RRP: $299.99 / £309.99
Lofts: 2H - 17° / 3H - 19° / 4H - 22° / 5H - 25° / 6H - 28° / 7H - 31°
Lie: 2H - 58° / 3H - 58.5° / 4H - 59° / 5H - 59.5° / 6H - 60° / 7H - 60.5°
Headweight: 2H - 230 g / 3H - 235 g / 4H - 240 g / 5H - 245 g / 6H - 250 g / 7H - 255 g
Standard shaft length: 2H - 40.75" / 3H - 40.25" / 4H - 39.75" / 5H - 39.25" / 6H - 38.75" / 7H - 38.25"
Stock shaft options: Evenflow Riptide Hyb, MCA Tensei AV Raw Blue Hybrid, MCA Tensei AV Raw White Hybrid, Aldila NV Green Hybrid NXT, Aldila NVS Orange Hybrid NXT, Aldila NV Pink Hybrid NXT
Stock shaft options: PXG Z5 Black (Midsize, Oversize, Standard, Undersize)
